"Solid playwriting, excellent delivery by the cast. The BLB theater is too small to hold the crowds that want to see and enjoy this musical." -Louis Murphy

"5 Stars-Very Highly Recommended"- Twin Cities Daily Planet

"Must See!" - Pioneer Press

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Want snappy writing, a star-studded ensemble and a mind-blowing musical score this Fringe? Get the most bang for your buck with "TROY! The Musical". 

Selling out on just its second performance, this sassy comedy combines the campiness of Broadway with the Classical Greek texts of Homer and Virgil.  Voted a "Must See" by the Pioneer Press, it's history's greatest love story like you've never seen it before!  Updated for a modern audience (though still maintaining its timeless charm), "TROY! The Musical" explores complex relationships, revenge, and the walls we need to break through to truly understand one another.  

Burnt Nightingale Productions proudly offers this magnum opus of hilarity as it weaves toe-tapping show tunes, physical theater and puppetry in one action-packed performance.  The script, while loaded with historical puns and literary references, is accessible to Greeks and Gleeks alike and requires no previous knowledge to understand it.

Featuring all new original music (lyrics by Maggie K. Sotos and composed by Joseph Yé), this witty and raunchy performance features Molly Dworsky as the breath-taking (and hungover) Helen, Ben Kollis as her eager and inexperienced lover Paris, and Megan Bren as the calculating narrator Aphrodite.

This Fringe season, get ready to go Greek.

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Check out our newest 5-star review by the Twin Cities Daily Planet:

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/matthew-everett/fringe-review-troy-musical-burnt-nightingale-productions-5-stars

And our "Must See" review by the Pioneer Press:

http://www.twincities.com/mustsee/ci_21222791/fringe-festival-troy-musical 

More praise for "TROY! The Musical!":

"Fantastic score. Great cast chemistry. One hour of fast-paced, bawdy, punchline-packed fun. Maggie K is throwin' a toga party and you're invited." -Eliza Swedenborg 

"I laughed so hard that I nearly cried." -Michael Krefting

"This is exactly the kind of toe-tapping, laug-out-loud musical cavalcade that makes people love the Fringe." -Tane Danger

"The music was brilliantly written, the puppets were hilarious. I had a fantastic time and would happily go over and over again." -Lydia Francis

Cast + crew

Megan Bren
Role: Aphrodite

Elizabeth Clouse
Role: Hecuba

Molly Dworsky
Role: Helen

Andrea Gullixson
Role: Clytemnestra/ Achilles

Sean Hansberry
Role: Priam

Ben Kolis
Role: Paris

Marissa Schon
Role: Hector

Maggie K. Sotos
Role: Odysseus

Jason Vogen
Role: Menelaus

Joseph Yé
Role: Musician

Write a review

You will be able to write a review for this show during the festival.

User reviews

Fun
by Publius McGee
Rating 4 stars
Clever interpretation of the invasion of Troy. Pretty great singing, goofy dancing, killer pianist. Fun and Fringey.

"I want to read the book!"
by Amy Kritzer
Rating 5 stars
Our entire family enjoyed this show, but the most priceless comment came from my 8-year-old granddaughter: "I want to read the book!" [Iliad]. "And the sequel too. What's the name of the sequel?" [Odyssey].

Troy! The Musical
by Florence Brammer
Rating 4 stars
Musical parody is not my favorite Fringe genre, but this show had a very charming cast and a quick-witted script. The singing was a bit uneven, but the songs were clever and well-sung. Clearly a crowd favorite.

Encore! Encore!
by Helene Phelps
Rating 5 stars
I am so pleased to see that Ash Land merits an Encore Sunday performance. This group of quirky, colorful, endearing - and TALENTED actors uses EVERYTHING we possess within the human condition: Deep and far-ranging emotions -- taking us with them through the joys and sorrows, fears and longings of everyday life; an immense capacity for story-telling within a minimalist and pure setting; and truth-telling through the integrity of each individual adding to the tapestry of Awe and Delight. Bravo Transatlantic Love Affair! Bravo.

Smart and funny
by Amy Seham
Rating 5 stars
Like the best classics, this show blends a high intelligence quotient with its low comedy. A delightfully talented cast, and a smart playwright with a very bright future.

It's official!
by Bradley Johnson
Rating 5 stars
With sold out shows this will be the encore and it's well deserved. Very funny and some fun songs make this rendition of the Trojan War worth seeing!

Entertaining & fun
by Kenneth Hanf
Rating 5 stars
Great fun and endless laughs. Good performances. Very well written. Accoustics in this venue leave a lot to be desired. Fairly in tune though some were not in their registers. Voices do not carry well here.

OH BOY! Tha Musical!
by Laura Mahler
Rating 5 stars
Togas have never looked better. I understand why Hecuba wanted those SANDALS so dang bad were cuz they were so dang HOTTT!

The comedy in this piece is on point. Perfectly cast. (Maggie Cast me next time! Cast me!)

THE PUPPETS!!! #ridiiic!!!!
ELIZABETH AND SEAN!!! #RIDIICC!!!!

My Fave song was when Molly was puking. Molly looks gorgeous whenevz, but it takes true beauty to look great while puking. Good Job Joe on the catchy songz!!

Congrats to the whole gang!! You worked hella hard and it SHOWS. #BRAVO!

So much fun
by Jacki Cook
Rating 5 stars
Hillarious songs, witty one-liners and clever staging and props made this a most enjoyable experience. Kudos to all involved in this hillarious show!

Look out, Tina Fey!
by Will Freiert
Rating 5 stars
Everything said by other reviewers (except the one who only rated it a 4) is true. Especially the fact that the BLB is too small a venue for this great show. When Maggie takes it to Broadway, I want to be there.

Had a blast!
by Laura Bohen
Rating 5 stars
This was a hilarious take on the history of the Trojan war, think Mel Brooks with a dash of Monty Python. The actors were all great-they really dove into all the roles and were hilarious! Great music, great script, great cast!

Hilarious History!
by Logan Martin
Rating 5 stars
The crowds, papers, and other reviewers are not crazy -- this show is all it's cracked up to be! Congratulations to the cast and crew on a hit of a show, and props to Maggie Sotos on a writing a very witty and creative show in her first Fringe shot. Here's to many more Sotos productions!

Hysterical!
by Mark Long
Rating 5 stars
This is a must-see.
It is so funny and silly. The story is good, the songs are great, all of the performers are wonderful. Just fantastic!

"Greek"y Humor
by Rachel Schmitt
Rating 5 stars
Poignantly witty and simply hilarious, this show is a well thought out, outstanding production. The writing is terrific, the music is upbeat, and the cast makes you laugh so hard that by after the show, you'll feel like you've just finished doing a hundred crunches.

I especially appreciated the casual Ancient Greek Mythology references that were slipped in, complementing the modern humor. Hats off to the Cast and Crew; Troy! The Musical is a brilliant show, and everyone should go!

Hysterical history
by Matlisa Semrad
Rating 4 stars
Good casting, fun songs and a chorus line. Enjoyed watching performers having a good time.

Golly!
by Caroline Toll
Rating 5 stars
The buzz for this was deafening, and yet they surpassed all expectations! Playful and fun, madly entertaining, this Maggie Sotos is going to be a woman to watch in all future endeavors.

Worth making a reservation for!!
by Rachel Flynn
Rating 5 stars
There are only a few tix left for their final performance so you should either get one of those or plan on being there for the Sunday encore slot. This is a fun show that you don't want to miss!

Maggie Sotos has written a fantastically smart and witty script, and there are excellent performances especially from Elizabeth Clouse as Hecuba, Molly Dworsky as Helen, Sean Hansberry as Priam, and Maggie as Odysseus. The lyrics of the opening song definitely ring true: learning history is fun when there are jazz hands involved!

The Gods Must Be Crazy
by Sergius OShaughnessey
Rating 5 stars
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...Troy! A new musical has been born. Now let us see if it can be fleshed out to a full two-hours+ as we wonder if being Greek is all it is said to be. What a true delight for those into sandals, armor and puppets. Paris and Hilton, I cry for you. Sure the humor is very, very low and the jokes exceedingly bawdy. All that is missing is a variety of fruits and vegetables to throw at the actors at prearranged times on stage. The show so delights at making fun of itself, that I truly want to visit is again and again...but so many shows to see at Fringe. Mailer said it best: "The Gods Can Be Funny!"

For the love of Zeus SEE THIS SHOW!!
by Katie Starks
Rating 5 stars
I really can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said. Great script. Great cast. Great legs and so funny I peed a little. I have already personally begged the creator to never stop making theatre, but if she ever does, I will show up in her living room with a giant hollow horse filled with everyone who saw this show and we will all convince her to come out of retirement. Deal? Deal.

TROY! The AWESOME
by Christian Demarais
Rating 5 stars
TROY! is amazing. For many reasons, first of which involves the script. TROY! treads in familiar territory, but never feels tired. It is a fresh, hilarious and even sexy take on an age old tale that everyone knows. There are clear characters, brought to fruition by an amazing and phenomenally talented cast. Rarely do you see a show where you cannot pick a favorite moment or scene or song, and this is one of those shows. Each actor is hilarious, steals at least one scene and brings this inventive show to life. The music is catchy and adds much hilarity to the proceedings. TROY! is that rare gem that is able to make fun of itself, not take things too seriously, but deliver something you can connect to and laugh at in the process. GO!!

Great Show
by Donald Staub
Rating 5 stars
I am not a fan of musicals and will usually pass them by without a second thought. But word of mouth convinced me to see this one. I was pleasantly surprised by the show. The songs were not too long or over done. And while not perfect were funny, fast and energetic enough to keep me interested. Great job!

A Must See!!
by Melissa Vermeersch
Rating 5 stars
Absolutely hilarious and a can't miss! Loved the witty quips and quick pacing. Great music, clever props usage, and a fresh take on the classic story. Bravo to cast and crew!

Outrageously funny
by Will Weisert
Rating 5 stars
I had no idea how anyone could stage a musical with a cast of tens (OK, just ten) on the tiny stage at Bryant-Lake Bowl. These folks succeeded and in a spectacular way. Great music, good vocals, a very witty script along with wonderful lyrics, and a cast who could make it come together.

A must see!!
by Bronwyn Miller
Rating 5 stars
I was so impressed by this show! The songs and modern-day euphemisms add a modern hilarity to ancient history -- if only it had been taught this way in school!

I definitely recommend this production as I am hoping to see it a second time! A fun show with a great script.

One for the History Books (Literally)!!!
by Chris Stewart
Rating 5 stars
"TROY! The Musical" has something for everyone; historicity for the classical purists, hilariously original tunes for the Broadway fanatics, an easy-to-follow storyline for those who think Homer is a Simpsons character, and plenty of indecent (yet timely) euphemisms for the younger crowds.

I was astounded by Maggie Sotos' refreshing approach to this story while staying true to the production's roots, and her actors' original adaptations of their characters. Kudos to Mr. Yé for his catchy compositions and the crew’s use of props (lighting, puppets, and “The Wall”) to make this experience worth every minute.

This production needs to be extended and shown in larger venues! Pre-order your tickets NOW; this one is certain to keep selling out!

Blast from the past
by Tony Czech
Rating 5 stars
This show is fast and funny start to finish. The entire cast is well equipped to handle the mix of history, comedy, singing and Improv. If you are looking for a night of fun, look no further. Food, drinks, and entertainment. Can't ask for much more!

Amazing!
by sandra pierce
Rating 5 stars
I could not be more impressed by a group of actors! Bravo, cast of TROY! The Musical. Theirs was the first show I saw and it certainly set the bar for Fringe shows this year.

Did I even eat corn?
by Mame Pelletier
Rating 5 stars
So funny. Funny funny funny and sweet. Love love love. Go see this. You won't be sorry.

This was great.
by Naomi Kritzer
Rating 5 stars
I'm hoping for "ODYSSEY! The Musical" next year. The songs were great and the show was well-performed. We did take our kids, hoping the raunchy humor would be over the head of the 8-year-old, at least. (It mostly was. And she looooooooved it and wanted to go home and read the Iliad.)

Infectiously fun.
by Eric Salo
Rating 4 stars
What a fun, fun show. Have I mentioned the fun? It's fun. It's really, really, REALLY fun. Elizabeth Clouse is fabulously boozy as Hecuba and Jason Vogen is hilarious as Menelaus. And the use of the wall as a prop is inspired.

I hope this same group comes back next year and gets a slot at Rarig; BLB is too small for talent this large.

Go See It
by Tracy Pedersen
Rating 5 stars
The most enjoyable Fringe show I have seen in years. Humor was well timed and the songs were very fun. It was everything I needed to know about the Trojan War neatly presented in under an hour.

Very creative and entertaining!

Absolutely Hist-erical!
by Kristen Weller
Rating 5 stars
This show is fun for all!* It's funny for the musical theatre lover, for the history geek, and for the average joe alike! Bryant Lake Bowl is a perfect venue for it, as well, with its bar/theatre crossover. Pay, persuade, or fight someone to see this show, it's worth it!

*While it would still be funny to a young one, some parental discretion is advised (adult humor).

A little show with a big heart
by Marissa Sidars
Rating 5 stars
For all its bawdy jokes (and there's a lot) TROY is a sweet take on Helen's famous abduction. Great job from the cast on singing and Joe Ye's score and piano perfectly complement the story. Lot's of classics quips mixed with physical comedy and fast-paced banter. I got a little teary for Paris and Helen at the end. In between all those laughs I guess I really started caring about these characters.

Top Show a MUST see
by Jason Thalacker
Rating 5 stars
Such a well written and hilarious show with a cast that doesn't disappoint. Each character brings their own comedy and voice in this non-stop musical at Bryant Lake Bowl!!

Trojans Work
by Thomas Von Hanks
Rating 5 stars
As entertaining as the Trojan Wars. Maybe more so because of the songs.

Smart, sassy and fun !
by Greg Gramke
Rating 5 stars
Going in, I thought my poor memory of Greek/Roman history would doom me to an hour of confusion. Delightfully - not so. The show is well written and laid out and could just as easily be a (convoluted) love story of today. Props/puppets and on stage enthusiasm by the cast provided for full on guffaws from the majority of the little theater that could (BLB) Original songs written by Maggie Sotos are sharp and the soundtrack by Joseph Ye provides 1 more character on stage. Go see this and get tickets online early. At my show there was much bartering and pleading for last minute and extra tickets. Must See !

Yea, I mean, it was pretty good I guess
by Pat Mckay
Rating 4 stars
Pretty good for what it was. Definitely not the most original show in the festival, and with some pretty low humor at points (I'm not sure how many more penis jokes it could have had before reaching saturation), but still a rather enjoyable show.

Hell(enist) Yeah!
by Mark Wamma
Rating 5 stars
Troy! The Musical is a show you absolutely must see. From the moment the show began, I was caught up in the humor, innuendo, romance, and drama that re-imagines this historic tale. The cast is fantastic and the music is none-to-shabby either (aka awesome too!). You may leave the theater with a stitch in your side but, for me, it is a price willing paid to witness such an entertaining and hilarious show.

Maggie's awesome fairy dust magic
by Michaella Crmkovic
Rating 5 stars
Okay, so here is what I had to say to Maggie on her facebook page about her show, and she told me to just copy and paste it - it pretty much sums up how I feel about the show:

"Maggie. What is the fairy dust that you use to make you so brilliant? Seriously. It was awesome tonite. Break legs for the rest of your performances. ;)"

Go see it people! The brillance that is Maggie Sotos and all her cast should be witnessed by every single person at least once in their lives!

SEE IT!
by Ann Vermeersch
Rating 5 stars
Hilarious, witty, and fun!!! This play takes a classic story and treats it to an irreverent makeover. Zippy script, clever staging, topped off with a brilliant and energetic cast that brings much appreciated depth to their roles. Don't miss it.

Holy Cow... er... Horse!
by Whittney Streeter
Rating 5 stars
It will have you rolling with laughter, chuckling, guffawing, awww!-ing, and quietly rooting for just everyone! Get your tickets early as they have been selling or nearly selling out. Sometimes it does get a little quiet and there are small props that are hilarious to see clearly, so I recommend sitting right up close (easy to do at Bryant Lake Bowl).

Fast, funny, and fabulous!
by Erica Koos
Rating 5 stars
This show will have you laughing from the moment the curtain opens until the final applause. The script is laced with a never-ending supply of witty remarks, hysterical antics, and just enough history that you leave feeling a little bit smarter. Whether you are a fan of musicals, a classical history fanatic, or simply love great comedy, Troy has something for everyone. Don't forget to buy your tickets early - this show is a must-see that is sure to sell out!

This show has legs
by David Trudeau
Rating 5 stars
Total hit with superb writing and songs you want to hum leaving the theater. Cast, Crew, director, music all right on and makes the tiny BLB seem huge. What would Cameron MacIntosh do with this? Make it a huge West End and Broadway long run mega success. Why not?

GO. GO NOW.
by Tim Hotchkin!
Rating 5 stars
Wow. Unlike the movie Troy (which made me want to pull out my eyes and cram them in my ears so I wouldn’t have to see or hear any more of the movie), Troy! The Musical only upset me in that I wish it had lasted longer and offered its music for sale. Maggie K. Sotos’ book and lyrics were like Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter impregnated the ladies from Garfunkel & Oates. The vocal talent was varied, but I felt that when Sean Hansberry and Andrea Gullixson were singing it was like the angels themselves were burping fine ambrosia in my face. And Joseph Ye’s musical stylings were like Disney animals scampering playfully on the keyboard. If you miss this show, one night you will wake in a cold sweat and realize that your life is incomplete.

Buy Tix Early and GO PEE BEFOREHAND.
by louis murphy
Rating 5 stars
So worth it. Solid playwriting, excellent delivery by the cast. The BLB theater is too small to hold the crowds that want to see and enjoy this musical. Go.
Buy tix ahead, and be sure to have enough for your friends. Last-minute online sales stop pretty early in the afternoon, and I only got two tix, and buttons, then we picked up a friend along the way, got there 40min early, and there were 3 seats left when we got to the door.
We lucked out. We got in, and right up front, and one KORG keyboard and a flash-forward intro later, the rest was us in an audience laughing and clapping and listening straight to the end of the show, and it was good. I want to say 'awesome', but 'awesome' has lost its meaning, right? It was _really_ good.

LM

Toga Party.
by Eliza Swedenborg
Rating 5 stars
Fantastic score. Great cast chemistry. One hour of fast-paced, bawdy, punchline-packed fun.

Maggie K is throwin' a toga party and you're invited. Yeah, it's kind of a big deal.

An Unbiased Review - Really!
by James Gullixson
Rating 5 stars
The show was great fun - we enjoyed it all. It is really neat to see the production in the small theater where you can see every little nuance (the "little" people on the big WALLl). The dialogue was clever and the musical numbers great, especially the big ensemble numbers. I could stand a history refresher every year by this crew!!

Homer!
by Dan Simon
Rating 5 stars
LOVED IT! I laughed, I tapped my toes, and I got chills when Helen of Troy sang.

my favorite so far
by Greg Northfield
Rating 5 stars
way to take a classic and modernize the hell out of it with hilarious song. congats to the cast and crew on a job well done. my favorite of the fringe so far.

It's a workout...for your smile muscles!
by Kristin Schaack
Rating 5 stars
Troy the Musical is truly a must-see at this year's fringe fest. No other show could pack in as much humor, history, musical numbers, jazz hands or creative storytelling than this show. Truly, your face might just got stuck in the "smile" position. You would never guess that Maggie K. Sotos was a first time writer/director for a Fringe show. The songs are toe-tapping, catchy and historically accurate...well, definitely toe-tapping and catchy, and historically close-to-accurate.

Go see this show, before it's too late!
PS - I want an original cast recording before this hits Broadway!

Witty, Dirty, and Heart Warming
by Lydia Francis
Rating 5 stars
A fantastically written musical with Gods and Goddesses war comedy and love. I could not stop laughing. Maggie Sotos writes brilliantly while her actors take on the nerdy classical major sense of humor that I adore. The music was brilliantly written, the puppets were hilarious. I had a fantastic time and would happily go over and over again. Check this one out this brilliant young writer has a vision worth seeing!

The cat's meow
by Michael Krefting
Rating 5 stars
I laughed so hard that I nearly cried. I didn't, but only just barely. What a great opening show for my Fringe Festival experience this year.

Do your laugh a favor and let it out.

I GOT THE CLAP
by Margarite Dante
Rating 5 stars
My hands wanted to applaud, continuously and constantly. A wonderful hour of entertainment...pure entertainment.

Guaranteed to Make You Smile!
by Noemi Lopez
Rating 5 stars
Fresh, funny, and fabulous - this show has something for everyone! Writer/Director Maggie Sotos proves herself to be a Fringe goddess in this hilarious musical. Witty, often bawdy dialogue is accompanied by catchy musical numbers, all delivered by an energetic and thoroughly entertaining cast. Absolutely a must-see!

Rock Me, Menelaus!
by Mark Mikula
Rating 4 stars
A fast-paced, highly educational, irreverent romp through everything you've forgotten from your classics course. I'm taking away a star for the occasional dull lyric or strained line of dialogue, but overall a very impressive debut. Three of the original songs stand up to the best I've seen in several fringes. Some of the best lines were Popeye-esque in that the characters were muttering them a bit underneath the scene. I love that type of delivery and was grateful to be sitting toward the front of the house to hear it. I also really liked the grounding of the romance that creates all of the churn in Troy. More Clytemnestra, please!

Epic fun
by Jenna Papke
Rating 4 stars
While there was some inequality among performers and songs, this was a lot of fun. And as a former student of Ancient Greece, they got almost all the references right. I especially loved that they fit Aeneas in there.

Particular call-outs:
Paris's song "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is... [spoilers]"
The "Build a Horse" kickline
Menelaus's complete lack of subtlety
Hecuba's boozey vampiness

Awesome!
by Nancy Haaheim
Rating 5 stars
We thoroughly enjoyed this show! I thought I might have problems following the historical story line, but I did not. The acting, singing, set, and background music were all first rate. Props to Maggie Sotos for an outstanding production.

Spanning the Aegean in About an Hour
by Allison Witham
Rating 5 stars
This show was just the pick me up I needed after a stressful errand filled day. It's smart, sassy, and above all else fun. Maggie Sotos is a brilliant writer and her cast did a most excellent job bringing her big freaky brain to life on stage. Aside from the humor and catchy tunes, there is also a great deal of heart at the center of this musical.

Funny, Lewd, but I Learned Something
by Brandon Boat
Rating 5 stars
There are points in the musical that everyone can identify with, whether you're married, have felt the pressures of dating, or you're the younger sibling of a child of Zeus. Rousing songs, historical background, and no fear of irreverence, Troy pulls no punches with its look at the ancient world through a modern lens.

A study of Greek Mythology with some dick jokes thrown in.

Hilariously and surprisingly poginiant
by Tane Danger
Rating 5 stars
This is exactly the kind of toe-tapping, laug-out-loud musical cavalcade that makes people love the Fringe. At the same time, it is a sincerely touching retelling of a classic love story. You'll leave wondering how they got so much into 55 minutes.

A Must See Show!
by Renee Schon
Rating 5 stars
This is my first time to the Fringe Festival and I was expecting an amateur play, but was amazed by the outstanding performance! Funny, clever with a twist on a classic history lesson, this is a must see show if you want to laugh out loud and thoroughly enjoy your evening!